10 Practical Tips for a More Organized Kitchen

Who doesn't want a more organized kitchen?  Alright, I'm sure that there are probably some people who don't, and plenty of people who just don't care, but if you ever cook, or even have takeout at home, an organized kitchen makes life a lot easier.  In fact, I can  tell you that it saves me both time and money.  More on that later; you are here for the 10 tips.

1.  Make a home for everything.  It doesn't have to look perfect, or be in perfectly matching containers (though I happen to love them, especially  these).  Just make a home.

2.  Keep the items that you use most frequently in places you can quickly and easily reach.  Save those oddly shaped corner cabinets, top shelves, and then always awkward over-the-fridge cabinet for things you don't use too often.

3.  If you have a dishwasher, keep the dishes and glasses you use on a daily basis within an arm's length of the dishwasher.  You are more likely to put them away if you don't need to walk across the kitchen, or, let's face it, even take two steps.  (Hey, I'm not calling anyone lazy, I just hate emptying the dishwasher and will find any excuse not to).

4.  If you have the drawer space, keep aluminum foil, Zip-Loc bags, plastic wrap, etc, in a drawer just under the counter.  I keep mine in a drawer under the counter where we normally pack lunches and school snacks.  The minutes and hassle it saves me in the morning make using that drawer space more than worth it.

5.  If you have children, and you are willing for them to get their own snacks, devote a space in a lower cabinet to easy, healthy, snack foods.  This way, you will not have to stop to grab something from an upper cabinet or shelf every time you hear "Mom!  I'm hungry!"

6.  Set up different "zones" in your pantry or food storage cabinets.  Group breakfast foods together, drinks/juices together, starches (pasta, rice, etc) together, and so on.  It will make early mornings, or dinner prep quicker and easier if you don't have to look for things.

7.  Have a family, or just more than you?  Use labels.  I know, that might be a little over the top, but it helps everyone stick to the same system, meaning things are more likely to end up where they belong.

8.  If you can afford it, get rolling shelves for lower cabinets.  They help you fully utilize your space, and you will never lose something in the back again.

9.  Clear off the countertops.  Every. Single. Day.  The clutter can get out of control faster than you think.  Fifteen minutes a day is a lot less daunting than 2-3 hours on a weekend.

10.  Put spices in a drawer.  Really.  I've tried them in a cabinet.  I've tried them in a rack.  I've tried them in their own really pretty matching glass bottles.  My best investment in time and money?  Spending a few bucks on this slanted spice drawer organizer.  I just pull out the drawer, and I can see them all.  No more rummaging through a cabinet, or looking for a specific spice in a rack.  

What is your biggest challenge in keeping your kitchen organized?  What is your best tip?

Disclosure:  This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. 

School Starts, Meal Planning, and Controlling the Toy Chaos

I've always seen the start of the new school year as a time to start fresh, especially with organization.  As my little ones go from babies to children with preschool, lunchboxes and activities (not too many), life just keeps getting busier.    This year, not only am I trying to plan meals in advance, I'm also trying to keep the toy chaos under control.

So, let's start with the meal planning.  I'll confess, it is something that I have done in spurts, but it is something that I need to do regularly.  Okay, not even regularly.  All. The. Time.  I mean, really, maybe lots of people are good at figuring out and prepping dinner after work + 5 year old soccer practice when everyone is tired, hungry, cranky, and at least 2 people in the house need immediate baths. I am not.  Since I'm thinking that having pizza or spaghetti every night isn't the solution, I've got to plan, and many times, prep, ahead.  Enter the printable menu template.  I created it to help myself get and stay organized in everyday life, and I shared it over on This Mommy Cooks Dinner.  I've found that planning ahead helps organize, and streamline, my days a lot.  I'm all about systems that can be maintained, so here is to keeping it up. 

Now, can we talk toys?  There are days that I feel like a Lego Factory exploded inside my house.  If you've ever stepped on one in the middle of the night, you know just how evil the rogue hidden Lego can be.  To keep toys handy, where tiny hands can reach them (read that as, put them away themselves), I repurposed space in a hall closet and a set of plastic drawers.  Each drawer now has its own category of toy, so the children can understand the system and help keep it up, and the toys get put away.....most of the time. 

Stay tuned for "Streamlining Your Weekday Mornings," and "The One Week Move."

In the meantime, do you reorganize at the beginning of the school year?  If so, what do you reorganize?

The 12 Week Move Checklist

So you're moving.  Don't you just wish someone would give you a checklist to help you keep it all together?   That has been one of my wishes every time I have moved.  Every.  Single.  Time. 

Wish no more.  We've got a printable list to use as a guide when as you prepare to move.   To download the entire file, just click here. 

Happy moving!

 

Five Tips to Make Your Move Easier, from People Who Coordinate Moves Every Day

Moves are stressful.  In fact, many people consider moving one of the most stressful events in life.  Just check out this article on the Top 5 Stressful Situations.    So, while we can't take away all of the stress, here are five tips for making your move easier, and hopefully, less stressful.

1. Before you start packing, de-clutter your house.                                                                  It will make packing easier, and it will save you money.  When you are deciding whether to keep or toss an item, think of whether you are willing to pay to move it.  You might just be surprised at how those costs add up.
2. Start early.  We know what you are thinking..."I will start a few weeks before the move."  Start earlier.  We recommend that you at least start organizing and de-cluttering 12 weeks in advance, which will help make your packing easier.  Keep in mind, packing will almost always take longer than you think, so it is never too soon to start organizing and packing.  Life happens.  Kids get sick, you find yourself busy at work.  You will be happy if you start packing early, not to mention, it is much easier to tell yourself you can pack just a few boxes a day than it is to face a week of packing it all.
3. Keep a notebook of everything move related, so that you can put your hands on everything you need to know, from contracts to contact numbers to receipts, at a moment's notice.  (speaking of receipts, did you know that if you move for work, and meet the qualifications, your move may be tax deductible?  We are definitely not accountants, but you might want to check out the IRS site on moving expenses, and then find a good accountant.



Photo courtesy of Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

4. Take photos of how your electronics are connected.   When you need to reconnect them in your new home, you will save tons of time figuring it out.
5. Leave yourself plenty of time to get some rest before your move.  Move days are hard, no matter how prepared you are.  A good dinner, and a good night's sleep will make the day, or days, ahead, much smoother.

Click here for 5 Tips on Living in Your Home While it is On the Market.

Here is to less stressful moving! 

 

Five Tips for Living in Your Home, While It is on the Market

Moving is hard to do.  Living in your home
while it is on the market isn't exactly a cake-walk,

either.   Somehow, you have to go on about your everyday life, all while keeping your house ready for a showing, many times at the drop of a hat.  Frequently, our customers ask us about ways to do this.    Here are five tips for living in your home, while it is on the market.

 

1.  Do a deep clean and organizing overhaul before the house goes on the market.

Then, you can do the little things to keep it up.  Wiping down a counter is a lot easier than needing to scrub down the whole kitchen on short notice.
 

2. Have a plan (and a checklist). 

 

What, exactly, has to be done before you walk out the door to spend some quality coffee-shop time while your house is being shown?  If you have a checklist, you'll avoid wasting time scrambling, and wondering if you remembered everything.

 

3.  Enlist help. 

 

Unless you are living alone, enlist every able bodied person in your house to help with that checklist.  Even your little ones can put away their stuffed animals, and they might even think it is fun if you make it a race.

 

4.  Have boxes handy to sweep frequently used items from your desk, bathroom counter, kitchen counter, etc, into. 

 

We love Photo Storage Boxes for this!  Sure, you could use clear plastic bins, but then, that clutter is still visible.  With a photo box, the box itself is pretty, and the items you don't have time to neatly put away are hidden.    We love these boxes from Amazon.  They come in an assortment of colors and patterns, and you can even get larger, "scrapbook" size boxes.   No, your items will not be perfectly organized, but it is a practical solution for a quick fix.  

 

5.  Have bins ready for shoes (or toys, or baby gear...).

Do you walk into your house and kick off your shoes?  Does your family?  These TubTrugs are great for throwing shoes in, and can be quickly moved, neatly, into a closet.  (They are also great for toys, sports gear, etc).

 

What are your best tips for living in your home while it is on the market?



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